Members of the Manav Adhikar Surakhya Manch held a demonstration before the Brahmapur Sub-Collector officer here on Monday demanding fulfilment of a six-point charter of demands including opening of the second gate of the MKCG Medical College Hospital at the earliest located near the bus-stand.
The Manch submitted a memorandum to the Brahmapur Sub-Collector addressed to the Ganjam Collector.
The Manch demands include supplying of more Mahaparayan ambulances to the MKCG Medical College Hospital, stringent action against MKCG Ophthalmology Department Associate Professor Dr Suresh Swain and private ambulance owners for flouting rules, increasing dialysis machines in the Nephrology Department, opening dialysis unit in the City hospital, proper functioning of the Regional Diagnostic Centre (RDC) and modernising the Cancer Department in the MKCG Medical College Hospital.
The Manch members alleged that the medical authorities have closed the gate, which was constructed with a cost of Rs 50 lakh, since September 8, 2011.
They said no efforts have been made to strengthen the security measures at the gate even as it was closed for anti-social activities.
Manch coordinator Abani Kumar Gaya said the patients are suffering many problems; even some have died, due to closure of the gate. “Why the gate installed with public money is not being opened for the public,” questioned Gaya.
Demanding more Mahaparayan ambulances to MKCG, Gaya mentioned that as per the direction of the Brahmapur Sub-Collector the patients would be charged Rs 15 per kilometer but some hospital workers in nexus with the private ambulance owners are flouting the directions and charging hefty amounts for availing ambulances.
The members alleged that Dr Swain since three years has been taking salary of lakhs but is residing in Cuttack and in name of deputation are growing their business at their own private clinics and hospitals. The negligence of the doctor has affected the health services badly at the MKCG, they further said.
Another member, Dr Dambarudhar Sahu, said that kidney patients are increasing in South Odisha day by day and for which there in no other than dialysis two times a week for which one has to spend around Rs 5,000.
So the Government should take steps to provide minimum 10 dialysis machines in the Nephrology Department and opening a dialysis unit in the City Hospital.
He also demanded to modernise the Cancer Department in the MKCG Medical College Hospital.
Gaya alleged that the patients are facing problem in getting various test reports from the Regional Diagnostic Centre (RDC) as it is only functioning from 10am to 3pm and demanded that the centre should function 24 hours.
Among others, Manch members Laxmi Narayan Rout, Maguni Nahak, D Mohan Rao, Sankar Sahu, Manas Ranjan Patra, Tejeswar Rao, Rama Badatya and Maheswar Badatya were present.